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Fort Myers, Fla. - The Stetson women's golf team turned in a 23 over par 311 team score in the first round of the FIU Pat Bradley Invitational on Sunday and sits in ninth place in the 15-team field. Junior Lauren Cate (St. Augustine, Fla.) shot three over par 75 at Pelican Preserve Golf Club to lead the Hatters.

Cate sits in a tie for 18th place, six shots off the individual lead, after the first round. Freshmen Sammi Smith (Louisville, Ky.) and Mallory Viera (Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.) each carded six over par rounds of 78 and fellow freshman Ryan Ashburn (Largo, Fla.) added an 80 to complete the scoring foursome. Senior Alex Banham shot 84. Stetson is playing this tournament without the services of star sophomore Alexandria Buelow (Palm City, Fla.); the reigning Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year is competing at LPGA Futures Tour Qualifying School this weekend.

Cate's 75 leaves her within striking distance of co-leaders Mitsuki Katahira (Daytona State) and Britney Hamilton (Western Michigan), each of whom shot three under par 69 on Sunday. Western Michigan holds the team lead at three over par, two strokes ahead of Daytona State and three clear of third place North Texas. Maryland (+12), Cincinnati (+16), South Alabama (+18), FGCU (+20) and tournament host FIU (+21) are the other teams ahead of the Hatters at this juncture with Florida Atlantic (+24), Oakland (+26), Troy (+27), Murray State (+32), Bethune-Cookman (+41) and Drake (+42) rounding out the field.

The FIU Pat Bradley Invitational continues tomorrow and concludes on Tuesday; live scoring is available by clicking here.